Wardrobe-trunk.



F. VIDEGARAY.

WARDROBE TRUNK. APPLICATIION FILED FEB. :9. 1916.

A tlomeys Patented Jan. 8, 1918.

FEDERICO VIDEGARAY, OF MEXICO, MEXICO.

WARDROBE-TRUNK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 8, 1918.

Application filed. February 19, 1916. Serial No. 79,425.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Fnonurco VIDEGARAY, a citizen of Mexico, residing in the city of Mexico, Mexico, have invented a certain new and useful Wardrobe-Trunk, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to wardrobe trunks, and the object of the invention is to provide a wardrobe trunk wherein garments may be conveniently and expeditiously packed in such manner and by such means as will preclude wrinkling or creasing of the garments.

\Vith the foregoing object in mind, the invention, in its preferred form, embodies a plurality of garment-hangers supported on a two-point suspension, supporting means on which said garment-hangers are suspended, devices cooperating with the supporting means for extending the length thereof, said extending devices serving, also, when disengaged from the supporting means, to compress the garments within the trunk and in intimate engagement with one another at both their upper and lower portions, and means for holding portions of the garments in predetermined relative positions and in such form that the garments will not be wrinkled when packed in the trunk.

Features of the invention and advantages thereof, other than those specified, will be apparent from the hereinafter detailed de scription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one practical embodiment of the present invention, but the construction shown therein is to be understood as illustrative, only, and not as defining the limits of the invention.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a wardrobe trunk with the cover omitted, showing the preferred embodiment of the present invention. I

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevation of a novel garment-hanger which I prefer to employ.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of said hanger.

Fig. 5 is a section on line 55 of Fig. 3.

Fig. (i is a detail perspective view of a member adapted to retain portions of a garment in a predetermined position so that said garment will not be wrinkled when compressed within the trunk, and

Fig.- 7 is a detail perspective of a member which I prefer to employ for holding the garments against longitudinal movement in the trunk.

Referring to the drawings, A indicates a wardrobe trunk of any well known or conventional form, a showing of the cover of which has been omitted in the drawings in the interest of clearness. In the upper portion of the trunk, i. 0., that portion thereof which is normally the top when the trunk is stood on end, are positioned a pair of cooperating trolleys a, one of which is positioned on either side of the trunk. Each trolley embodies a sheath-like, tubular section which is rigidly mounted, in any suitable way, in spaced relation to the side of the trunk. The garments C to be packed in the trunk are supported on garment-hangers B, preferably of the type shown in Figs; 3 and 4, which are in turn suspended upon trolleys a, as shown in Fig. 1. Trolleys a are equal in length to the depth of the trunk, and serve to support the garments when packed therein. However, it is desirable, to allow of ready inspection of the garments, to provide means whereby they may be withdrawn beyond the face of the trunk, and, according to the present invention, this is accomplished without removing the garment-hangers from the trolleys.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, this is accomplished by two extension rods D, substantially equal in length to the interior, transverse width of the trunk and of such cross-section that one end of each rod may be inserted into each tubular trolley a, as shown in Fig. 2. When rods D are so positioned, they serve to extend the length of supporting trolleys a a considerable distance beyond the face of the trunk, so that garments normally supported upon the trolleys interior of the trunkmay be moved forwardly on rods D into positions exterior of the trunk, where they may be inspected or any particular garment selected without rcmoving the garments from their positions on the extension rods.

Positioned at different heights on the opposite sides of the trunk, and interiorly thereof, are two pairs of complementary engaging members 6 e and f f. These engaging members may be of any desired form, but, in the preferred embodiment, are formed from sheet metal strips positioned, in any convenient manner, in close proximity to the interior sides of the trunk, as shown in Figs'l and 2. Members e andv f are pro- 1 each of which is vided with a plurality of longitudinally disposed apertures g, slightly larger than the cross-sectional area of extension rods D, whereas members 6 and f are provided with a corresponding number of two-way or bayonet slots 95.

With the foregoing arrangement and proportioning of the parts, one of the extension rods D may be removed from its corresponding trolley a and positioned interiorly of the trunk, with one of its ends in engagement with one of the apertures g, and its other end in engagement with a corresponding bayo net slot g. In like manner, the other extension rcd D may cooperate with the other pair of complementary securing members. Thus, when a plurality of garments are supported interiorly of the trunk, on trolleys a, the two rods D may be brought into cooperative relation with their retaining members 6 e and f 7', respectively, for the purpose of pressing the garments against the base of the trunk and into intimate contact with one another. As heretofore stated, the complementary pairs of retaining members are position'ed at different heights in the trunk, so that, when the rods are in the position described, one of said rods will engage with the upper portion of the garments, while the ot her rod will engage with the lower portion of the garments. Maximum etliciency in compressing all portions of thegarments is, therefore, assured, and they will not shift during transportation.

As a special precaution against longitudinal shifting of the garments during rough handling of the trunk, means is provided which effectually precludes the movement of the garments in such direction as would tend to lift or force the garment-hangers free from engagement with the trolleys, and this means is shown more particularly in Figs. 1, 2 and 6. Extending across the back of the trunk, and secured thereto, is a strip of'metal H, substantially equal in length to the width of the trunk. Nearthe opposite ends of strip H are two offset portions h, provided with an aperture h. The strip is so positioned relative to trolleys a that the apertures h are in alinement with said trolleys, so that, in the assembling of the parts, the rear ends of the trolleys may be inserted into the openings h in'the offset portions h, whereby said offset portions serve'to support the rear ends of the trolleys in a firm and rigid manner.

7 Intermediate the ofiset portions h are two similar offsets i, through each of which is passed a strap I. One end of each strap is provided with a buckle z", and said straps are of such length that, when the garments are positioned within the trunk and compressed by rods D, the straps may be brought forward over the garment-hangers, led about the upper rod D, and their free ends buckled the unseating of the together after the manner shownin Fig. 1. \Vhen this has been accomplished, the straps will serve not only to force the extreme up-,

per portions of the garments into more intimate contact, for the purpose of compressing them, but, also, will, at the same time, preclude the longitudinal shifting of the garments during rough handling of the trunk.

As the straps I, when pulled taut and buckled in the manner specified, are under more or less tension, it is desirable to form the bayonet slots in the upper retaining member eso that they extend into strip 6 from its lower edge, whereby the-pull by straps I upon said upper rod will not unseat the rod frcm'the bayonet slots.- The construction describedwill absolutely preclude garment-hangers from the'trolleys, no matter how roughlythe trunk is handled.

One distinct drawback or disadvantage in wardrobe trunks as heretofore employed is the fact that, in packing coats, the sleeves generally droop so that, when said coats are compressed, the sleeves are badly wrinkled. According to my invention, however, means is provided whereby the coat sleeves are retained in positions extending diagonally across the breast of the coat and in flattenedout positions, so that, when the coats are compressed within the trunk, the sleeves will lie flat, and wrinkling is precluded. This means may partake of a variety of forms,

but is shown in Figs. 1 and 6 as embodying a double-ended spring clip J formed from a single strip of spring sheet metal, with its opposite ends returned upon themselves. The tension members at the opposite ends of clip J engage with the sleeves of the coat, as shown in Fig. 1, one sleeve being inserted between each spring member so that the ends of the sleeves are tied together in such position as to flatten the sleeves against the garment and not allow of the drooping of the sleeves, as has heretofore been the case, WVhen member J is employed, the garments may be withdrawn upon the extensionrods and packedagain within the trunk without might be manufactured economically or atthe same price that hangers generallycost;

. section.

face-abutting relation so as In Figs. 3 and 4 I have shown animproved form of hanger which is stronger at its center than at any other portion throughout its extent, and one which may be manufactured very quickly and economically.

The form of hanger referred to embodies twowire rods Z Z, both of which rods are of the same shape. The central portions of the rods are swaged so that said centralportions are substantially rectangular in cross- In assembling parts Z and Z, the swaged portions of said rods are placed in to collectively form the garment-hanger, and are thereafter riveted together, all as clearly shown in Fig. 8. The hanger at its central portion, therefore is not only of double thickness, but of considerably increased depth of material and is thus rendered more than doubly stronger than hangers as previously constructed.

The garment-hanger described is not only of a superior character structurally, but its assembling, with its swaged portions secured in face-abutting relation by rivets, allows of a considerable range of adjustment of the hanger during manufacture. As is well known, wardrobe trunks are not always of the same width, but have a variation of between two to four inches. In manufacturing varying sizes of trunks, therefore, it has, in the past, been the practice to make different garment-hangers from different dies or machines for different sizes of trunks. By the present invention, however, one set of dies or one machine may be utilized in the manufacture of the two rods which form the garment-hanger B, and the width of said garment-hanger will depend wholly upon the degree of overlap at the centers of said rods. E. 9., assuming that the garment-hanger, when assembled as shown in Fig. 3, would be av trifle too large for the trunk with which it is to be used, said rcds could be shifted so as to bring the upper hook-shaped portions nearer together, before they were riveted together by the rivets m. On the other hand, if it were desired to make the garment-hanger of wider dimensions, said hanger might be stretched out before the riveting operation. Thus, one set of dies or one adjustment of a machine can form the blanks for garment-hangers adapted, when assembled, to fit various sizes of trunks. This is an important feature from a commercial standpoint, as it greatly lessens the cost of manufacture as well as obviates the necessity of a plurality of machines, which, in the case of this invention, are supplanted by a single machine or a single die.

When the hereinbefore described elements are employed in combination, a greatly improved wardrobe trunk results, both from a structural standpoint, as well as from the garment-hangers for these standpoint of packing garments efiiciently to preclude wrinkling and to position a maximum number of garments within the trunk. The elements, acting in combination, serve to fixedly position the trunk against shifting, by stresses, in any direction whatsoever, no matter how roughly the trunk may be handled. The invention is particularly applicable, therefore, to wardrobe trunks which, in many cases, arev handled by careless persons, although many features of the invention may be employed to advantage in stationary clothes closets where it is desired to support clothes in such manner that they may at any time for immediate use.

This invention is an improvement upon the structure set forth in my prior Patent No. 1,159,3e2, dated November 2, 1915, for support for garment-hangers.

Having thus fully described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure-by Letters Patent, is:

1. A device of the class described embodying a chamber, a plurality of fixed guides mounted therein, a plurality of garmenthangers supported on the fixed guides, and detachable members cooperating with the guides for extending the length thereof beyond the open front of the chamber whereby the garment-hangers normally supported on the fixed guides may be moved to a position exterior of the chamber, in combination with securing means positioned interiorly of the chamber and adapted to cooperate with the extension members for the purpose of normally maintaining such garments as are supported on the hangers in compact form interior of the chamber, and means for precluding the inadvertent disengagement of the garment-hangers from the fixed guides.

2. Adevice of the class described embodying a chamber, a plurality of fixed guides mounted therein, a plurality of garmenthangers supported on the fixed guldes, and detachable members cooperating with the guides for extending the length thereof beyond the open front of the chamber whereby the garment-hangers normally supported on the fixed guides may be moved to a position exterior of the chamber, in combination with securing means positioned interiorly of the chamber and adapted to cooperate with the extension members for the purpose of normally maintaining such garments as are supported on the hangers in compact form interior of the chamber, and means for holding portions of the garments in predeter mined positions relative to the remainder of their respective garments, both when the garments are compressed in the chamber or positioned upon the extension members exterior thereof.

3. A device of the class described emgarments within the I be withdrawn purpose of compressing the bodying a chamber, aplurality of fixed guides mounted therein, a plurality of garment-hangers supported on the fixed guides, and detachable members cooperating with the guides for extending the length thereof beyond the open front of the chamber whereby the garment-hangers normally supported on the fixed guides may be moved to a position exterior of the chamber, in combination with securing means positioned interiorly of the chamber and adapted to cooperate with the extension members for the purpose of normally maintaining such garments as are supported on the hangers in compact form interior of the chamber, means for holding portions of the garments in predetermined positions relative to the remainder; of their respective garments, both whenthe garments are compressed in the chamber or positioned upon the extension members exteriorly thereof, and means for precluding the inadvertent disengagement of the garment-hangers from their supports.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination of atrunk, a plurality of fixed guides secured interiorly and at one end thereof, extension rods detachably secured to the guides, garment-hangers mounted on the fixed guides and slidable longitudinally thereof onto the extension rods to partake of positions exterior of the trunk, and securing means interior of the trunk and adapted to cooperate with the extension rods, when removed from the fixed guides, to hold said extension rods in engagement with the foremost garment in the trunk, at the upper and lower portions of said'garment, for the garments into intimate contact with one another interiorly of the trunk. I a

5. In a device of the class described, the combination of a trunk, a plurality of fixed guides secured interiorly and at one end thereof, extension rods detachably secured to the guides, garment-hangers mounted on guides and slidable longitudinally thereof onto the extension rods to partake of positions exterior of the trunk, securing mate contact with one another interiorly of the trunk, and means secured interiorly of the trunk and adapted to engage with one of the extension rods, in its compressing position, for the purpose "of precluding the inadvertentdisengagement of the garmenthangers from the fixed guides. V

6. In a device of the class described, the combination of a trunk guides secured interiorly and at one end thereof, extensionrods detachably secured to the guides, garment-hangers mounted on the fixed guides and slidable longitudinally thereof onto the extension rods to partake of positions exterior of the trunk, securing means interior of the trunk and adapted to cooperate with the extension rods, when re: moved from the fixed guides, to hold said extension rods in engagement with the foremost garment in the trunk, at the upper and lower portions of said garment, for the purpose of compressing the garments into intimate contact with one another interiorly of the trunk, and means secured interiorly of the trunk and adapted to engage with one of the extension rods, in its compressing position, for thepurpose of precluding the inadvertent disengagement of the garmenthangers from the fixed guides, in combination with means for holding the sleeves of the garments in flattened-out positions irrespective of whether the garments are in compressed position or exterior of the trunk on the extension rods. 7'

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

FEDERICO VIDEGARAY;

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

7 Washington, D. C.

a plurality of fixed 

